Fear of a Black Gun Owner - The NRA Supported Gun Control When The Black Panthers Started Packing

[Cali_Democrat]

By: Edward Wyckoff Williams

(The Root) -- It may seem hard to believe, but the modern-day gun-rights debate was born from the civil rights era and inspired by the Black Panthers. Equally surprising is that the National Rifle Association -- now an aggressive lobbying arm for gun manufacturers -- actually once supported, and helped write, federal gun-control laws.

<...>

It is ironic that the modern-day argument for citizens to arm themselves against unwarranted government oppression -- dominated, as it is, by angry white men -- has its roots in the foundation of the 1960s Black Panther movement. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale became inspired by Malcolm X's admonishment that because government was "either unable or unwilling to protect the lives and property" of African Americans, they ought to defend themselves "by any means necessary."

<...>

The Panthers responded to racial violence by patrolling black neighborhoods brandishing guns -- in an effort to police the police. The fear of black people with firearms sent shockwaves across white communities, and conservative lawmakers immediately responded with gun-control legislation.

Then Gov. Ronald Reagan, now lauded as the patron saint of modern conservatism, told reporters in California that he saw "no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons." Reagan claimed that the Mulford Act, as it became known, "would work no hardship on the honest citizen." The NRA actually helped craft similar legislation in states across the country. Fast-forward to 2013, and it is a white-male dominated NRA, largely made up of Southern conservatives and gun owners from the Midwest and Southwestern states, that argues "do not tread on me" in the gun debate.

http://www.theroot.com/views/fear-black-gun-owner?page=0,0

Further proof that the NRA and their right wing enablers are racist. They were all for gun control when blacks wanted to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights during the civil rights movement, but now they don't care for gun control when whites do the same thing. Saint Ronnie Reagan was also a racist piece of shit.

[Dawson Leery]

1. k/r

[upaloopa]

2. If I remember correctly the Black Panthers first

formed as an armed body guard for Malcom X's wife on a trip to Los Angeles.

[Eleanors38]

3. Let's undo the damage. Will you support repeal of these laws?

[friendly_iconoclast]

5. Let me guess: The OP has no idea who Robert F. Williams was...

...or the fact that he had an NRA charter for his 'rifle club'...

[Eleanors38]

15. ...because it doesn't fit the re-written historical narrative.

[DonP]

7. Well, that's a quandry

Is the NRA evil because years ago they didn't want black men to carry guns on the street?

Or is the NRA evil because they now want black men to be able to carry guns on the street?

Easy answer - it doesn't matter, they are all evil all the time because "GUNZ ARE EVIL!

[friendly_iconoclast]

4. That's strange, the NRA had no problem with Robert F. Williams and his Black Guard

(Granted, I'm not talking about the current pack of assclowns that are running the NRA...)

http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x225949

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/negroeswithguns/

NEGROES WITH GUNS: Rob Williams and Black Power


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x331645

Remembering Robert Hicks and the Deacons of Defense

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x144160#144226


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8591761&mesg_id=8593289


Robert Franklin Williams the KKK and the NRA ...

[gejohnston]

6. are you saying that as liberals we should

seek to repeal
California's ban on open carry
the Gun Control Act of 1968
NC's handgun purchase licensing requirement, passed during Jim Crow
IL's FOID requirement?

With the NRA, its a little more complex than that. The NRA leadership were mostly "Fudds" and Olympic sport shooters who were more and not really about the 2A. They also supported laws that were really "least worst" concessions. The manufactures in the US supported the military surplus ban because of the flood of surplus bolt action rifles as miltaries started dumping them and switching to assault rifles and semi auto battle rifles.

Granted, the current leadership is a collection of neocons, corporatists, and a convicted poacher/draft dodger/has been rocker, but that has nothing with the old guard of that era.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. If you repeal the 1986 GOPA, you could do a national registry.

Just sayin'.

[gejohnston]

14. I was concentrating on the laws of that era

and I'm not a fan of registries. They create jobs by making lists, but I don't see how it would actually do much. I would rather spend the money building schools and fixing other infrastructure.

[bubbayugga]

8. so did the rest of the democratic party back then.

[iiibbb]

9. you should review the Democratic party position on African Americans in the 50's and 60's

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. Cali_Democrat --

[ileus]

11. Every citizen needs to show their 2A support in times like these.

[Eleanors38]

12. A most interesting post. Thank you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. From your characterization...

...I'd infer that you're not fan of Reagan. Therefore, in this discussion, you favor the position taken by the Panthers advocating the right to open carry? Right?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[holdencaufield]

17. You're making the classic mistake ...

... that many pro-control / anti-RKBA advocates make concerning the NRA. It is often remarked that anti-control persons are repeating the NRA position ("NRA talking points" etc) when, in fact, the opposite is true. If the NRA took a pro-control position concerning civil liberties (as above) not true liberal civil libertarian could support them.

Liberal anti-control / pro civil liberties persons are in fact only supportive of the NRA position WHEN it correctly reflects their own views on our civil liberties.

So, it isn't a case of the NRA wagging the civil libertarians -- but, the NRA is being wagged by the civil libertarians.